By Abbas Nazil
The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has called for stronger collaboration between government and engineering professionals to address Nigeria’s pressing development challenges, particularly in the energy sector.
Speaking at the 29th edition of the NSE October Lecture in Abuja on Friday, President of the Society, Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntala, congratulated Nigerians on the country’s 65th Independence anniversary and stressed the role of engineers in nation building.
She noted that the October Lecture serves as a strategic platform for engaging policymakers, industry leaders and stakeholders on critical national issues, with emphasis on sustainable development.
Oguntala identified poverty, food insecurity, deteriorating infrastructure, healthcare inefficiencies and energy crises as urgent problems that require technical solutions.
She urged government at all levels to harness the expertise of Nigerian engineers in designing homegrown, scalable solutions.
The highlight of the lecture was the presentation by Engr. Tasiu Sa’ad Gidari-Wudil, FNSE, mni, immediate past President of the NSE, who delivered a paper titled “Evaluating Nigeria’s Power Sector Reforms: 2005–2023: A Quantitative Analysis of Technical Performance and Regulatory Impact.”
Wudil, known during his tenure as “The Digital President,” was celebrated for introducing ICT innovations, establishing the NSE Smart Innovation Hub, and championing renewable energy initiatives, including a 100kVA solar system at the National Engineering Centre.
The NSE President also announced preparations for the 2025 International Engineering Conference and Annual General Meeting, scheduled for December 1–5 in Ibadan, themed “Engineering Innovation for a Sustainable Blue Economy.”
The event is expected to attract more than 6,000 participants globally, reinforcing Nigeria’s role in advancing engineering solutions for sustainable growth.
Oguntala concluded by urging participants to actively engage in the lecture and contribute ideas that will shape the country’s development trajectory.
